Buncombe County is planning to sell a number of properties. One of them, the Mary Benson House (MBH), is operated by RHA Behavioral Health Services - a well respected non-profit organization serving people in need across the Carolinas. MBH has been a safe haven to women who are either pregnant or have children under 5 and are also in active recovery from substance abuse for the past ~20 years. The county has owned the property since 2004 when it was donated by the state. In recent years, RHA/MBH Staff have renovated and updated the house with new kitchen and bathrooms spending time and energy overseeing work, soliciting volunteers and material donations to accomplish the upgrades. To move is not a viable option because the house is set up for them not only with play areas inside and out for the children, but meeting rooms, necessary sprinkler system and signage throughout.

Repeatedly, I've heard stories from women who were desperately trying to stay sober or clean and struggling with having to return home to places where roommates or family are drinking or doing drugs. I've also heard sentiments from women who live at MBH regarding what a blessing it is for them to have a safe, supportive place to live. It's hard enough to learn new, healthy ways to respond to life's stressors, I can't imagine navigating that in an unsupportive environment.

This is an important service to our community that works through supporting multiple generations. It would be a real travesty for the county to sell it and force them to close their doors. This is underscored by the fact that the property was passed to the county from the state without a fee and that the renovations have been done, improving the property's value, by the non-profit organization.